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Weed & Pest director warns state property-tax proposals would sharply cut local revenues
Summary
Sublette County Weed & Pest director explained how proposed state-level property tax reductions could remove a substantial share of funding for special districts, estimating a $350,000 hit for the district and a broader county reduction of approximately $403 million in assessed value-based revenue statewide.
Julie, representing the local Weed & Pest district, told commissioners that draft proposals at the state legislature to reduce or replace property taxes could severely reduce the district's funding. She said the district’s statutory authority (1973 statute) ties base funding to property taxes and that the district already operates with limited margins; she estimated the county-level hit to special-district funding could be substantial if the draft legislation advances.
Julie said the district uses county funds to leverage federal grants and to provide cost-share programs (including 100% cost-share in many instances) and that reduced mill levies would constrict those cooperative programs, hiring of seasonal staff, and the district’s ability to deliver services to residents and federal partners. She asked commissioners to consider public education and coordination with state legislators about local consequences of the proposals.
